Everyone returned home from the wedding by Tuesday or so, so the first set of letters begins on Wednesday, May 22, making this a short post. Ruth now works at a hospital and she is kept on her feet dealing with multiple patients. She seems to enjoy the challenge. Dave is again wrangling with the Essex to keep it running, but despite having work, his pay isn’t coming through in time.
May 22, 1935
70 Jay Street
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
How does it seem to be home again? Gee, it sure was hard for me to come back and go to work again. It was plenty hard to see you people leave the city last night. I guess it was because I had been having such a good time. I didn’t cry again, but it wasn’t because I didn’t feel like it.
I managed to get to bed by 10:30 (for a change). By the time I got cleaned up, my uniform put together and a letter written to Mom, it was nearly time to retire.
Today I have been so busy I didn’t get a chance to even think. I arose at 6:10 and got to work at 7:00. I swallowed my breakfast and then the fun began. We have five patients and three babies, besides a girl who had her tonsils out today and went home today.1 Never having seen an operation before, they assigned me the duty of getting her ready for the operation and assisting her to the operating room. I watched the operation and didn’t mind it at all. I guess I was supposed to faint away, but I’ll save that for the next time. After the operation they had me stay with her. Ye gods, was she crabby and strong. She was only twelve and weighed 145 pounds.
We have to work awfully hard but I think I’m going to like it a lot. You should see me dash up the stairs with a baby over my arm. I go so fast they think they are in an elevator. I can’t juggle two at a time yet, but I may master the art soon.
I wrote a letter to Florence and asked her to come over some night soon. If they ask me to go down to P.H. with them, I’ll go but Lydia needn’t think I’ll ask them. I’m not asking anyone to wait around for me. If there is a chance of getting down, I might condescend to let you know if I know it myself.
Be sure and let me know all about how the Spragues are progressing. I bet they have been having a swell time getting settled today. I can hardly wait to see their house when they get organized.
We get a day off a week alright, but we don’t have much notice so unless there is some way I could telephone you (after you get a car), I might as well work seven days a week.
How is your leg where you collided with the wheelbarrow? I hope it gets along o.k. ‘cause since it happened up in my territory, I suppose you would expect me to take care of it. Remember twenty-four hour duty would only cost you $30 a week or $1560 a year. Nope, I would be considerate of you and only charge $35 a week or $1820 a year.
I get through work at 7:30 now so I have a longer evening. It only takes half as long to walk home as it used to. By the way, with the earlier hour I don’t see Donald anymore. Gee, does that burn me up. I think I’ll quit and go home, neglect my career and let my profession be deprived of my talent, etc.
“It is a town hall tonight,” and I am sul-eepy so me thinks I’ll call it a day and retire. Pul-ease write soon or sooner.
Ruth
May 22, 1935
Middleburgh, N.Y.
Dear Ruth,
Seven thirty and I suppose you have finished your first day in the hospital. How did it go? I hope you liked it. I didn’t feel very ambitious today myself. I don’t know why unless it is just a natural disinclination to go back to work after a vacation.
We didn’t see Zelma last night. She had just gone out when we arrived so we went right on to Preston Hollow where we unloaded the freight at the love nest. Went over to Salisburys a little while and then came up here. Lydia and Fran only stayed here a few minutes and then went on to Middleburg. They planned on going back to P.H. and staying with Salisburys for the first couple of nights until they can get the house straightened around.
I broke two more links in the chain letters when I got home last night. One of them was from Jo. Lydia also got one from her so if the other two she must have sent out didn’t fare any better, I’m thinking she won’t get many returns. I rather expected to have some money waiting for me here but the fellow from N.Y. didn’t come up Sunday. There was a letter from him though with a contract to tear down those buildings. I signed that and sent it back and I guess I’ll start work up there tomorrow. However, that doesn’t give me the money when I want it most. If I had it now, I could get the Essex running and wouldn’t have to wait for Fran to get a car.
The number of that rooming house is 26 Chestnut Street and the name is Mrs. Lillian Brant. Mrs. Salisbury has told her about you so if you get a chance to go over there, just mention her name and she will know who you are. I hope she can give you a room at the right price because I’m sure it would be a much better place than where you are now. If Ben and Florence come over, you could get them to move your stuff providing you are lucky enough to get the room. Better yet, why not get Donald to move you when you go on that date with him. Let me know how you make out with him will you and if he shaves down and up or both.
Mother pressed my suit today and didn’t say a word about the press being in the wrong place so I guess I didn’t do so bad after all or should I say you didn’t do so bad.
Am I glad I went to Adams Center or am I. I’ll say I am with a capital G. Really, I had a wonderful time, Ruth, and I think everyone up there was just grand. When you write to your Mother will you thank her for me for all she did. I tried to thank her but I guess I didn’t make a very good job of it. I just couldn’t think of the right thing to say. I hope some of those remarks I made didn’t put me on the black list. They came out before I thought how they would sound and I was sorry afterwards. Guess I’ll have to put some kind of a curb on my tongue or it will get me in trouble yet. It seems more like a dream than reality that I spent nearly five whole days with you and to think I came near passing up such an opportunity.
I can’t say when I will see you again but you can be sure it will be as soon as possible. I hope Fran gets the car before you get your first day off so you can spend it in P.H.
“Me”
May 24, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dear Ruth,
Just got home from work and read your letter. Maybe I’ll be able to finish this so you will get it tomorrow but if I don’t, I suppose you won’t get it until Monday night. I am going down to the school tonight to the spring concert given by the school band so I’ll have to do some fast writing if I am to get this finished before Lula comes to take me down there.
LaVere is wearing my new suit tonight. How is that for generosity on my part? I’ll probably make up for it by wearing all of his ties that I can get hold of. We were supposed to get him a new suit but can’t do it until after June 1st and as it is partly my fault he didn’t get it I have to let him wear mine.
So you are pretty busy now. I hope you will like it. At least there will be a little variety for you. Better stick to carrying one baby at a time or there will be need of an undertaker instead of a nurse if you should drop one.
Say, your price comes high to your friends doesn’t it? My leg is O.K. Probably the wheelbarrow got the worst of the argument anyway.
I haven’t seen Fran and Lydia since they left here Tuesday night. I’m going to try and get down there sometime tomorrow. This being without a car is getting on my nerves. I’ll have to do something about it pretty soon. I just can’t go on without seeing you and no one knows when Fran will get his. It’s too bad they won’t give you a couple of days’ notice when you can have your day off. I should think they would be able to. There is no way to get me on the phone so that won’t work. No doubt Ben and Florence will offer to bring you to P.H. when they come over. I hope so anyway and maybe in another week I’ll have the Essex running. At least I’ll do my best.
I’ve got to stop now as Lula is here and ready to go. If you ever get a more prompt reply to one of your letters, let me know about it. That “Pul-ease write” on the end of your letter sounded rather lonesome to me. That’s why the special effort to get this out.
Dave
Footnote
- Tonsillectomies are still one of the most common surgeries performed in the U.S., mostly in children younger than 15 years old. The earliest recorded removal of tonsils dates back 2000 years, and by 1959, there were up to 1.4 million tonsillectomies performed per year. With antibiotic treatment available, the number of tonsillectomies performed annually has diminished to around 250,000. Tonsils were thought to be “portals of infection” and so were removed for many reasons, but mostly to treat throat infection. Reasons for removal of tonsils today is to treat recurrent infection or obstructive sleep apnea to name a few. Although the surgery is considered to be safe, there are serious complications that can occur, such as bleeding and death (about 1 in 2600-50000 procedures).